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Hybrid View

Hybrid Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper doesn't come in a hybrid version (yet), but a small British company has turned one into a pretty impressive hybrid on their own. It's a different take on hybrids than we are used to. The car is powered by four small electric motors, one in each wheel. Each one is 160 bhp, so the car sports a surprising total of 640bhp.

Most hybrids use the gas engine to power the vehicle. This car instead uses it to recharge the battery. Regenerative braking also helps add juice to the battery. To top it off, you can plug the car in when you aren't driving it around.

All of this creates some solid performance. The car gets 80 miles per gallon and has a range of more than 930 miles on a single fill. You won’t get passed on the highway, either – the car goes 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds and tops out at 150 mph. No word on when, or if, it will go beyond being a single demo vehicle.